St Kilda has hung on for a thrilling three-point victory over Gold Coast after a massive umpire call allowed Max King to kick the match winner on Saturday night.
Sun Mac Andrew had to be pulled away by teammates when he was penalised for a hold on his big Saints opponent with less than three minutes to play - heard stating “he’s doing it to me” and “it’s got to go both ways”.
King made no mistake with the set shot from just 20m out as the Saints claimed a 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) win at Marvel Stadium.
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Suns coach Damien Hardwick could be seen stating “What’s that for” in the box when the free kick to King was paid.
“That is absolutely not a free kick,” Fox Footy’s Jack Riewoldt said of the big call.
“(Hardwick) would be looking at that and he’d be filthy.”
The Gold Coast had hit the lead for the first time in the match late in the final term before the King free kick.
The result ensures Hardwick’s Marvel Stadium hoodoo rolls on as he hits an eighth straight match at the venue without a win.
"Clearly unwarranted": Dimma on FK | 07:11
The 3-2-1... (With Will Faulkner)
3 – SAINTS SLUG IT HOME OVER SIZZLED SUNS
In a low-scoring grudge match at Marvel Stadium, St Kilda have come out winners in one of the more defence-heavy matches of 2024.
The Saints held all the momentum in the gritty affair, but by the same token, the Suns never truly left striking distance of the hosts – making for a unique type of anticipation not often seen in the modern era.
Incredibly, St Kilda’s score of 7.9 (51) was the lowest winning total for a Ross-Lyon coached team since 2010.
The Saints’ lead fluctuated at each break, moving from 12 points to 14 points between quarter and half time, before coming slightly to eight points at the final break.
And it threatened to flip completely in the last quarter with a lead to the Suns deep in the last term, but the Saints fought back just at the right time to secure their fifth win of 2024.
Incredibly, St Kilda’s disposal efficiency for the night (69.3 per cent) was over seven per cent worse than Gold Coast (76.7) – yet still took the four points.
Saints outshine Suns in narrow victory | 02:16
Surprisingly, the Suns were whacked in the clearances – and was potentially the reason for their ultimate defeat; a strange thought given the usual power of Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller in the midfield.
Conversely however, Gold Coast’s half-backs gave the match’s statisticians a gift from heaven, absolutely racking up the disposals out of the defensive half.
Sam Flanders (42 disposals, 13 marks) and Alex Sexton (29 disposals, 16 marks) were absolutely everywhere down back, but their monumental outputs weren’t enough to outlast ‘Ross the Boss’.
St Kilda’s seven goals remarkably came from just three players – Dan Butler (three goals), Jack Higgins (two) and Max King (two).
While perhaps a concern for next week, their scoreboard pressure was enough to keep Damien Hardwick’s Suns at bay just enough.
In addition to Flanders and Sexton, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland and Joel Jeffrey were also solid in defence with performances that would hopefully soften the blow for Hardwick – who has now lost all six games on the road this season, and continues his hatred for playing at Marvel Stadium.
In fact, Hardwick hasn’t won a game under the roof for eight games since he infamously mentioned his dislike for the stadium, with seven losses and a draw since his last win at the venue.
Lyon frustrated despite win over Suns | 09:39
2 – COACHING GREATS PLAY GAME OF BATTLESHIPS
Damien Hardwick and Ross Lyon played the ultimate game of battleships on Saturday night, with only a combined 99 points scored all match in a gruelling test of each other’s defence.
In fact, the affair was the fourth-lowest score in the venue’s history – which includes a 2020 game when matches were shortened by 25 per cent game time due to COVID-19.
It became clear quite early in the match that it would produce nowhere near as many points as the Suns entailed up in Round 10’s clash in Darwin against Geelong.
In fact, tonight’s double-digit total was just 37.5 per cent of the total points seen at TIO Stadium – an incredible contrast in a round only three weeks ago.
Suns surge towards highest ever score | 02:39
And Hardwick was not a fan of the outcome to say the least.
“A terrible game of footy to be perfectly honest; a horrific game of footy - we’re a part of it, but it’s not a game that I love,” Hardwick said post-game.
“It was 125 uncontested marks going backwards, sideways, we couldn’t find a way through - credit where credit’s due, they defended really well... it was a dour struggle.
“It’s frustrating; we let a game slip I think we should’ve, could’ve but didn’t win - we had our chances late but we’ve got to be better than this and more mature than this.”
During the game, the Fox Footy talent assessed the clash as it happened; albeit with slightly less emotional takes.
“It is about making the most of your opportunities, 15-7 inside 50’s – the Saints are dominating the ball at the moment, it’s been in their forward half (a lot),” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt said at quarter time.
“The Saints have been really interesting, they’ve been a really good defensive team, that’s fallen away – but they’ve never been great at offense.”
And the narrative unfortunately for high-scoring enthusiasts didn’t change, as the Suns and Saints mustered together a measly six goals by half time.
“For the full control that St Kilda have had, 14 points (to Gold Coast is not much),” – Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said at the main break.
“It’s been a domination in terms of statistics – you look at contested possessions, they’re also smashing inside 50’s… but the Suns, that Ainsworth goal (before half-time) is just that little glimmer of hope at a really pivotal moment,” Riewoldt added.
“The Suns have had their opportunities, but the Saints certainly should be further ahead at the moment.
“The Suns scored 160 points two weeks ago against the Cats, and all of a sudden you’ve (St Kilda) held them to 15 points in a half of footy – clearly they’ve got some offensive weapons there, but credit to St Kilda, they’ve been able to really clamp the Suns down and stop them from their offensive prowess.”
In an era where double-digit points accumulated by teams is so rare, it doesn’t come as a shock that Ross Lyon took part in the affair.
But nonetheless, each coach kept the other on its toes as they mastered their defensive game plans for the second half of the year.
1 – TAG TUSSLE FALLS WAY OF PROMISING SAINT
It was somewhat of an unexpected battle between the duo, but Marcus Windhager and Touk Miller played out the matchup of the night as the Saint clamped down the two-time All-Australian.
But the Sun, despite Windhager having the better of him all night, Miller kicked the most crucial of goals with eight minutes to go – giving the visitors their first lead of the night deep in the last quarter.
Unfortunately for Miller, it wasn’t enough to drag his Suns over the line – but it was a rare shining light in a night where Windhager held him to just 14 disposals – 11 of which came in the second half.
The Saint, who impressively clamped down West Coast’s Harley Reid in the second half last week, was praised at the main break by Fox Footy’s pundits.
How the Saints stopped Harley Reid | 06:36
“He’s found a nice little role that will allow him to develop as a player as well, because he’s playing on the very best – not only stopping them, but can go find his own ball as well,” Brad Johnson said.
“That’ll evolve, he’ll become a better player because of this, and learn different styles of work rate and positioning; especially with Touk Miller and how good and contested he is as a player – it’s a great experience.”
“Sometimes I think coaches are afraid to tag because it shows a weakness in the system, but they have this up their sleeve and in their system,” Riewoldt added.
Ben Dixon and Eddie Betts re-assessed the match-up at three-quarter time, in a term where Miller fought back some of the momentum back from his opponent.
“We gave him (Miller) half a roast at half time, Windhager had done a really good job for a half, bit six possessions in that (third) quarter, starting to fight his way back,” Dixon said.
ST KILDA v GOLD COAST - AS IT HAPPENED
There were no late changes for either side, with Sebastian Ross (St Kilda) and David Swallow (Gold Coast) the respective substitutes.
Gun small forward Jack Higgins kicked off proceedings for the home team, kicking truly in front of goal and giving the Saints the first drawing of blood.
A free kick to Dan Butler at the top of the goal square off the ball with seven minutes left in the quarter brought the game’s second goal, and an early two-goal lead to the Saints.
Ben King opened the Suns’ major account with a set shot to get them going, but live wire Butler kicked a beauty of a goal in response - registering his second for the night so far.
At quarter time, the Saints led the Suns 3.1 (19) to 1.1 (7).
Gold Coast defender Sam Flanders (10 disposals), Joel Jeffrey (eight disposals) and Sam Collins (six disposals, four marks) have held plenty of poise across the back line for the visitors in the first term, but the dangerous Higgins and Butler up forward have hit the scoreboard in return.
Max King levelled the goal kicking battle with twin brother Ben, slotting a set shot from 45 metres out on a 45 degree angle.
His kick gave the Saints a 21-point lead with seven and a half minutes to play before half time - as well as the game’s first goal in the second term, 16 minutes in.
A late Ben Ainsworth goal for the Suns brought the margin back to 14 points, with just two goals kicked in the quarter and six in the first half.
Flanders continued to absolutely dominate off half-back, registering 26 disposals, eight marks and five intercept possessions in the first half.
Marcus Windhager has clamped gun Sun Touk Miller hard in the first half, limiting the two-time All-Australian to just three disposals by half time.
Ben Long kicked the Suns off with a bang in the third quarter, converting from a set shot to bring back the margin to eight points.
Jack Higgins found himself in the right place, right time later on though in the goal square, taking an uncontested mark to stroll in for his second of the night.
Sub David Swallow replied almost instantly after being subbed on for Brayden Fiorini, before Dan Butler and Matt Rowell kicked goals soon after in a scoring run not seen so far tonight.
At three-quarter time, the Suns trailed by eight points - with the Saints evidently not making the most of their around-the-ground control.
Ben King kicked his second of the night as the maiden goal in fourth quarter, and cut the Suns’ deficit to just three points with only half a quarter to go.
Despite Windhager having the better of Touk Miller all night, the midfielder kicked a crucial goal to give the visitors a two-point lead with eight minutes to play.
But the match turned again with less than three minutes to play when Suns defender Mac Andrew was penalised for an off the ball hold on Max King - which the big Saint converted.
And from there, the Saints didn’t relent as they held on for a three-point win.
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